Tire vandals target 16 residents in Tioga-Nicetown

TIOGA-NICETOWN - April 11, 2012 (WPVI) -- "I hope they catch them soon, very soon," said Diane Thompson.

Thompson, a Tioga-Nicetown block captain, is one of 16 local residents who came out of their homes Wednesday morning to find that at least one of their tires had been flattened, either punctured or slashed.

Her Mercury Marquis had to be towed so she could have the tire replaced. This is the second time she's been victimized in less than a year.

"Here we are stuck with this situation. You've got to spend money on brand new tires when you've got to be paying bills. It's probably going to run me a hundred or two hundred dollars. Last time I bought one was six months ago," she said.

Police say the tires were sliced or jabbed between 2:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. Shalika Taylor lives in the 3900 block of Donath. She got hit, too.

"Nobody has extra money to be putting out. People have bills and it's hard out here," said Taylor.

Taylor is having to go cut-rate to make do.

"I just spent 25 dollars on a used tire. And I had a new tire, now I have a used tire. Thank you to whoever did this. Thank you," she said.

"We work too hard. I hope they hurry up and catch these guys and get it over with. We need our cars, we have families to support," said victim John Terry.

Police are investigating, searching for surveillance pictures in this neighborhood which is adjacent to a PennDOT salt supply yard, passing out leaflets, and begging anyone with information to call the Northwest Detective Commission. Tires were punctured along streets including Ruffner, Priscilla, Donath, Alfred and Hunting Park.

Victim Randolph Thomas was getting his temporary spare wheel put on so he could go to his Nissan dealer for replacement service to the tune of $150 for the tire. He fears this obnoxious nuisance crime could lead to violence.

"Someone may get hurt out of all this. Eventually somebody's going to come out of their house and see someone bent over, slashing their tire. I don't have to go any further," said Thomas.

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philadelphia, vandalism, tioga, nicetown, local/state, vernon odom

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